Course Descriptions

ETHC 118: Comparative Religious Ethics

An introduction to the sources and patterns of moral reasoning within the traditions of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism, by comparing arguments from each tradition on issues of sexuality and the ethics of war and peace. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

Cross-listed as: RELG 118

ETHC 250: Dialogue: Race, Ethnicity, Religion

In a culturally and socially diverse society, exploring issues of difference, conflict, and community is needed to facilitate understanding and improve relations between social/cultural groups. In this course, students will engage in meaningful discussion of controversial, challenging, and divisive issues in society related to race, ethnicity, and religion. Students will be challenged to increase personal awareness of their own cultural experience, expand knowledge of the historic and social realities of other cultural groups, and take action as agents of positive social change in their communities. This course requires a high level of participation from all students. Note: This course earns .5 credits. No prerequisites. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

Cross-listed as: AFAM 250, RELG 221

ETHC 252: Dialogue: Gender Identity

In a culturally and socially diverse society, exploring issues of difference, conflict, and community is needed to facilitate understanding and improve relations between social/cultural groups. In this course, students will engage in meaningful discussion of controversial, challenging, and divisive issues in society related to gender identity. Students will be challenged to increase personal awareness of their own cultural experience, expand knowledge of the historic and social realities of other cultural groups, and take action as agents of positive social change in their communities. This course requires a high level of participation from all students. Note: This course earns .5 credits. No Prerequisites. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

Cross-listed as: GSWS 252

ETHC 261: Art of Social Change

Artists have a long history as agents of social change, using traditional art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture, and a bit more recently photography, performance and video to critique various aspects of society and to propose alternatives for the future. The consideration of social engagement as an artistic medium in and of itself has become an important current in contemporary art since at least the 1990s. This course will begin with a consideration of some of the ways artists in the past approached social and political concerns. We will then focus on the more recent proliferation of artists with social practices both within and outside of the gallery/museum realm of contemporary art. Students will address various important historical, theoretical and practical texts; conduct discussions and presentations; and collaborate to design and enact original works of socially engaged art. No prerequisites.

Cross-listed as: ART 261

ETHC 276: Social Justice and Human Rights

Examination of the concepts and debates surrounding social justice and human rights, with attention to the arguments between East and West. Applications to current global and domestic issues, such as globalization; poverty and disparities in wealth and opportunity; race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation; political liberties; and genocide.

Cross-listed as: PHIL 276

ETHC 277: Social Justice versus Freedom?

Examination of the perceived tensions between efforts to promote social justice and guarantees of individual freedom. Theoretical debates will be linked to practical issues, such as promotion of free markets versus government social programs and questions of government's legitimate role on personal issues, such as providing for gay marriage. Efforts to seek common ground will be explored. No prerequisites.

Cross-listed as: PHIL 277

ETHC 290: What Makes a Great Leader?

How do we recognize a good leader? Is a just or effective leader the same as a great leader? Materials will be drawn from literature, film, and biographies, as well as more theoretical readings from the humanities and social sciences, as we try to answer these very important questions. We will consider specific examples of good and bad leadership (fictional or historical) from a variety of realms, such as politics, social movements, religion, the arts, education, law, science, and public intellectualism. Open to sophomore or junior Honors Fellows, and others with permission of the Honors Fellows Committee.

Cross-listed as: HSEM 290

ETHC 320: Topics in Ethics

Collaborative research project culminating in a specific ethical theme (announced each time the course is offered.) The course runs for an academic year, earning .5 credit per semester. The course may be repeated for credit. Participation by invitation.

ETHC 330: Comparative and International Educ

ETHC 330: Comparative and International Education: Education as the Practice of Freedom

This course examines both the study and practice of comparative and international education. The course is organized with a multidisciplinary perspective with analysis of history, theory, methods, and issues in comparative and international education. A major goal of the course is to interrogate the linkages between education and society. Recurrent themes will be examined to demonstrate how every educational system not only arises from but also shapes its particular socio-cultural context. Students will have the opportunity to deepen and expand their knowledge of educational issues within a global context. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

Cross-listed as: EDUC 320, SOAN 344

ETHC 340: Equity & Social Justice in Educ

ETHC 340: Equity and Social Justice in Education

This course intends to examine notions of 'equity' and 'social justice' in the context of three aspects of education: the historical founding of U.S. schools on oppressive ideals; the ways in which race, gender, and sexual orientation affect and disrupt one's experiences of schooling; and the evolution of the efforts to work against these phenomena within the field of education. The course will explore equity and social justice from a variety of perspectives and through different texts, including analytical journal articles and personal narratives. Readings and discussions will be based heavily on the local world of public education as a microcosm of these issues as they have played out nationally and internationally. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

ETHC 352: Topics in Social Justice

Examination of a particular issue in social justice, through a research project. Common elements of the course will include examinations of theoretical issues and debates, allowing students to select from a range of possible research topics. Significant time will be devoted to periodic student reports on their projects. Prerequisite: Ethics Center/Philosophy 276 or 277 or permission of instructor.